Apparatus for the molding of plastic materials



G. R. TREI/IILIAII.

APPARATUS FOR THE MOLDING 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1917. IIENEWEDSEPLM. 1919.

LMQAQQ. I mama Jun-e 1,1920.

9 sIIEETsfsHEET I.

@MW/kf @f www (l R. lTREVILLIAN. i l APPARATUS FOR THE MOFDING 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS. v APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1917. IIEIIEwED sEPT.24, I9I9.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. R. TREVILLIAN.

APPARATUS FOR THE MOLDING 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1917. IIENEwEI) sEPT.24,1919.

2 l 92 A Patented June 1, 1920.

s SHEETS-SHEET 3`.

G. R. TREVILLIAN.

APPARATUS Foa THE MoLDlNG or PLASTIC MATERIALS. APPLICTIN FILED MAY 21| 1917. LSQZQQ.,

RENEWED SEPT. 24, 1919.

f. 77ZZ77655 G( R'. TREVILLIAN. APPARATUS FOR THE NIOLDING 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS. v .A'PPLICATION FILED MAY 21| 1917. RENEWED SEP'T.24, 1919. 1,342,192o j Patented Jun@ 1, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

G. R. TREVILLIAN. APPARATUS FOR THE Momma 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS. APPLICATION FILED' MAY 21, I9I7. RENEWED SEPT. 24. 1919.

1,342 1 92 Patented June 1, i920,

9 SHEETS--SHEET 6.

G. R. TREVILLIAN.

APPARATUS FOR THE MOLDTNG 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 2l, |917. RENEWED SEPT.24, 1919. 1,342,192.

Patented June l, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

G, RI TREVILLIAN. APPARATUS FOR THE MOLDING 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS. APPLICATION man MAY 21, 1917. l111:11EwED sEPT.24.1919.

1,342,192. 1.1111111811 1111161, 192g., f. 9 SHEETS-SHEET 8x G. R.TRV1LL|AN. APPARATUS FOR THE MOLDING 0F PLASTIC MATERIALS.

RENEWED SEPT. 24|

,5 .Am nw E #cw .mn .4 v ma .f n uw APPLICATION FILED MAY 2l, 1917.

UNi'ra orifice.

GUY R. TREVILLIAN, OF CICERO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR THE HOLDING OF PLASTIC MATERIALS.

To all inkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY R. TREVILLIAN, a citizen of the .United States, residing at Cicero, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Molding of Plastic Materials, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for molding plastic materials, such as are used in the manufacture of tile, bricks, coping, etc., and has particular reference to the several mechanisms, and their construction and mode of operation, by which the material is transformed into a product of definite shape.

In the manufacture of various molded products, it has been found difficult, if not impossible, to provide machinery capable of operating upon a plastic material to produce the desired density, form, and finish. In the manufacture of roofing tile, for instance, it is customary to mold certain plastic ingredients by hand with the aid of a palette and bar having the desired profiles, and thereafter setting the molded product, still on its palette, away to be cured. Such a method of molding is necessarily slow, re-

quiring the employment of many operators where quantity production is desired, and entails further the use of a large number of palettes.

Recognizing the diliiculties and deficiencies attendant upon such methods of production, I have devised a machine capable of automatically shaping products to a desired forin or profile. In the present apparatus, the material to be molded is poured upon palettes which are carried upon an endless conveyer into successive contact with the different agencies which perform work upon the material. It is the construction of such a machine, the arrangement and operation of its constituent parts which operate upon the material, and the steps or processes by which the material is brought to its final density, form, and finish, that constitute the subject matter of my invention.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention and which represent a machine designed particularly for the manufacture of tile having a conventionalprofile Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the machine in its entirety;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the receiving end of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line y Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Renewed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,990.

3-3 of F ig.. 1, the hopper and leveling mechanism being removed from the view;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the reciprocating cy-` lindrical trowel;

u Fig. 6 is a transverse section, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

I Fig. 7 is a detail, enlarged, of the smoothing trowels;

Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the link members. in the trowel shown in Fig. 7;

.F ig. 9 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7

Figs. 10 and.11 are cross sectional details showing the iconveyer carriage and the finishing roll;

Fig. 12 is an end View of the carriage shown in Fig. 11;

Figs. 13, 14, and 15 are plan, side, and end views, respectively, of a palette suitable for the apparatus;

Figs. 16, 17, and 18 are plan, side, an end views, respectively, of the molded product formed on the palette of the profile illustrated in Figs. 13, 14;, and 15; and

Fig. 19 is a detail in cross section of certain parts appearing in Fig. 9.

.The arrangement of the various mechanisms composing my invention, and their relation to each other and to the entire machine, may best be understood by referring to Fig. 1, wherein is shown a framework 2() equipped with suitable wheels 21 for an endless conveyer 22 upon which a number of palettes 23 containing thereon material to be molded are carried into positions to be individually and successively operated upon by (1) leveling mechanism A, (2) tamping mechanism B, troweling mechanism C, (il) smoothing mechanism D, and (5) finishing mechanism E. The descriptive terms used to designate the five sets of mechanism just mentioned are apt to a certain degree only, so that it will be understood these terms are employed principally for convenience.

The product.

Before proceeding further, it may be advisable to explain the nature of the palette used and the shape or form of the product which is molded on the palette. It should be borne in mind that palettes are made up in many different proles and that any approved design or pattern may be used with my machine. The palette profile illustrated in detail in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 represents a conventional design, and may consist of a plate, either molded or stamped, having the desired configurations. In the molding process these configurations are imparted to the product on its under side. The profile of the reverse or upper side of the product will take on the form of the mold which engages that side. For the purpose of clearly illustrating the operation of my invention, I have shown in Figs. 16, 17, and 18 a molded product 241 having its upper side, not in contact with the palette, formed with ridges 25 and intermediate recesses 26, extending from end to end. It is the various mechanisms and processes by which a product ofsuch configuration is formed that I have illustrated in the drawings and will now proceed to describe as an exempliiication of my invention.

T he concer/er.

A means for advancing the palettes into the various positions required for the mold ing operations is provided in the conveyer which I have designated as 22. The conveyer consists of a number of carriages 27 connected by links 28 and mounted on flanged wheels 29 arranged to travel upon guides 30. The carriages when linked together forman endless belt or conveyer adapted to travel around the wheels 21. Each carriage is suitably formed to receive between it and the adjacent carriage one of the palettes 28 (see Fig. 2), and carries upstanding profile walls- 31, as shown best in Figs. 7 and 12, arranged to lie adjacent the ends of each palette, each wall being provided with a shelf 68 for supporting one end of a palette (see Fig. 7 rlhe profile of each shelf corresponds closely to that of the under side of the palette which rests upon it, so as to form a-seat on which the palette will be correctly positioned and held against sidewise shifting movement. By this means each palette is securely supported and correctly positioned upon the conveyer, and is provided at its ends with retaining walls which hold the material in place while being molded.

Extending transversely between opposite of the connecting links 28 are inverted U-straps 69 adapted to afford support for the palette (see Figs. 2 and 7) independent of that furnished by the shelves 68. In practice it is generally desired to make use at different times of sets of palettes dilfering vgreatly in profile. The machine should, therefore, be capable of operating with palette sets of any approved profile. For this purpose, the conveyer is built up of carriages having shelves 68 corresponding to theprofiles of the palettes desired. The parts interconnecting the carriages of any conveyer are therefore so designed as to KV70 which engages with the 'outer side of the wheel 29, and a Cotter pin 32 which extends through the other end of the pivot pin 70 to lie inside of the link 28, serve to maintain the parts securely in operative relation.

Manifestly, a change of carriages may be made by simply pulling out the cotter pins, withdrawing the pivot pins to disassemble the conveyer, then reassembling with other carriages, and finally reinserting the pivot and cotter pins to lock the partsin place.

In operation, the palettes are placed one at atime upon the receiving end of the con-V veyer (see Fig. 2), where each finds support upon the straps 69 and one of the shelves 68. As the following carriage'travels yup and around the wheel 21, it brings its shelf into supporting position beneath the palette, and at the same time places its profile wall 31 ,against the rear end of the palette. When thus positioned upon the carriages between forward and rearward profile walls 31, the palette is centered upon the conveyer in proper position to be operated upon by the several mechanisms presently to be described. At the delivery end of the machine the profile wall 31 at the forward end of the palette moves away from the palette as the carriage starts downwardly to travel around the wheel 21. Although this movement of withdrawal from the forward end of the palette takes away the support of the forward shelf 68, nevertheless the palette vwill continue to remain in horizontal position for some little distance of travel owing to the support elsewhere afforded by the U-straps 69. Obviously when the forward prolile wall has ceased to engage with the proximate end of the palette, the attendants may remove the palette from off the carriage without hindrance.

The leveling mechanism.

The materials to be molded may be discharged from a suitable supply source, as a hopper 33, onto the palettes 23, which are moved successively into position to receive the material. A vertically adjustable leveling gage 34 (best shown in,Fig. 2), which forms the leveling device A, is ,arranged adjacent to the hopper at a proper height to scrape off of each palette material received from the hopper in excess of the quantity required for/molding operations. This gage, which may be in the form of a shoe, is pref- -erably' profiled to correspond, in za: measure ati least, `witlr `that .of' the. upperV side .of the finished product. i lts/is 1apparent,itherefore, @thataas eaclnpaletteimoves iawayfrom the hopper t-hegage '34 willwactzupon the :ma-

`terial to bring lit to a=predetermined level and profile. .y Y

T lic tamprmg mechanism; Upon .leaving thezleveling gage,'.the material isrisubjec-ted .to .the iaction lof -a tampiiig device B '(lsee Fig. 3)'irconsistingof a shoel35 of.pro'file similarfto :thatLofthe finished product, and .vertically adjustable upon =afrod"36 pivotally connectednear its V the rod136:vertical.;at.everyapoint Vin its cycle of movement. ,Power isxtransmittec'l to the shaft 3-9fto effectthemovements described which should vproceed 4in a clockwise direction, asviewed in F 1,andiat a speed sufficient toi-enable thettamping shoe ttol repeati'ts action iiponevery portion of the `material carried` on the palette. :By `properly :adjusting the itamping shoe, the

material maybe compressed-to. the desired density, and at the Sametime will receive lthe forinwhich it is to finallytake. V;]t lwill AVbe observed thatthe tamping shoe operates upon the material whileexecuting a curved mov-ement inthesame direct-lonas the travel vof thelpalette, and for this reason the material is1not tlisplacedffpiledup, Ior scraped rofl` to vany extent, but .only compressed. to the .degree'iequire'd .by the vert-icalfposition of -the tainping-shoe relative to the rod 36.

The trowclmg mechanism.

fter receiving treatment frointheta-mp- 'ing mechanism whichcompresses .the maiterial to the desired'density, the material stillv on the'palette is conveyed into posi.

tionV to be operated upon by'the troweling wmechanismfC. As appears best'in Figs.V l

and 6, this consists of a=pair of .vertically movable links A42 pivoted to thei frame as at A43 and to yokedirocking arms 44 whoseiipperl ends are pivotally secured: to a link 45 having connection with a crank 46 mounted on a driven shaft 47. At their lower ends vthe rocking arms 44 carrya cylindrical profile trowel 48 which `is reciprocated with each stroke ofthe links'45 back land forth lover the material being molded. This trowel 48is suitably rounded as shown in Fig. 5, `andneednotb e mounted torotatew-hen in action. v The troweli-ng cylinder 4 8 moves alwaysin a straight horizontal line iowing A4to the vertically adjustable mounting ofthe 'versely across the oarriage.-are two rods 55 land; this movement Iis i further confined by means 1 of' guideways-,4`9, one onf each end of the cylindrical tnowelfl, withwhich flanged rollers. .'50 cooperate. Inopeiiationi-the. ma-

v-terial under .treatment is vsubjected :to;th.e iweightf of the .reciprocating trowel which,

with; its associatedi parts, may be .sufficiently rlieafvy f toprodiuce vvthe i desired results. :The .trowel is :maintai-ned.` always at the correct level. foroperation yupon ;the material by meansof .the guidewa-ys 49,'-which are lso .mounted on the frame as t0 ,be capable of adjustment lfas frequiredl byitlle': nature and =thickness fof the product being molded. 4

"The smoothing mechanism. f Connected tof the armvf44i byflinks 51, :and

receiving its i mot-ion therefrom, is a. device forsmoothing offlthe .surface ofthe ma- Y terial,gwh1ch I have termed the smoothing mechanism il). V.The construction 'and operations of this device :may best be .iii-nderstood by reference tolligs. 4,7, z8, and 9', wherein'l haveshown tracksf52 with which flanged `wheels 53 cooperate, `these wheels supporting a carriagey 54 in position tobe -reciprocated above the surface of.; the material being imolded. :Extending trans toY eachV .of which xarepivotallyy securedl` two Elink members 56 (see Figu) connectedto af bar 57. The flower en 'd of each. link member lis Y pivotally connected. to yanother link 58 having connection as at 459.wit-h 'a swinging bar 60 pivote'd to thecarriage asnfat-Gl.

Bolted or lotherwise lsecured to eachj'gbar 57 isa plate-"62 formediat Vits; edges with a profile trowel :63 suitably rougnclediA to ,per-

form work uponthe material bein-g molded. g

.In operationfthe reciprocating movements ofithe arms 44,7are communicated through the links 51 t0 the bars 6 0, to which they are connected, causing the link meinbersg kto be swung simultaneouslyfonetoward, and(J thefother away from., thework. .By these movements, the profile trowels 63 y are brought alternately into engaging position with the lmaterial Tto render 'its surface smoother andrdenseiz- During jeach str-oke l the` carriage 54 is also reciprocated upon' its wheels 53, in consequence ofwhich itsinovelments relative to the material unider .treat- 'ment will be faster in one direction thanin the other, owing to the continuous advancel, mentof thematerial in a single'edirection. The tracks 52 are so mounted upon the frame that theyv may be .adjusted vertically whenever required for taking up wear, or for other reasons.

The finishing mecicmism, l

When the smoothingdevicehas performed its work, the material will befreadyato. un-

formed by the finishing mechanism designated as E, and represented in detail in Figs. I0 and 11.` As shown, this device con- .sists of a smooth profile roll 64 mounted on volved at a comparatively low speed in a direction counter to that of the travel of the product at the point of contact, so as to produce a very smoothly finished surface. The ends of the roll are each flanged as at 72, being arranged -in coinciding relation with the sides of the palette, so as to shear off the edges of the product in a smooth manner. Where desired, the 'surface of the work may be sprayed or sprinkled with an atomizer to increase the smoothness of the finish and preferably this would beV done immediately prior to treatment by the finishing roll.' After having passed under the finishing roll, the product upon its palette is removed and placed away to cure or dry.

The various mechanisms which have been described are driven from any appropriate power source, and are suitably timed to operate relative to each other and to the products under treatment, so as to produce most satisfactory results. It is further to be noted that the various agencies which perform work on the materials may be adjusted lwithin certain limits toward or from the to the work than those preceding. Also I 'would have it understood that under certain conditions one or more of the mechanisms described may be dispensed with, or altered in its operation, if the naturev of the product under treatment should justify this change.

`My invention is principally concerned with an apparatus of the general kind herein shown in which the plastic material is treat-A ed by several agencies in succession and automatically transformed from a loose amor- A phous condition into a productl having apredetermined form, finish, and density.

` I claim:

l. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of means for advancing palettes containing material thereon through a number of positions, a plurality of mechanisms arranged to operate successively upon the material as the saine is advanced comprising-a circularly moving tamping device, a reciprocating troweling device, a reciprocating smoothing device,` and a revolving finishing device, and means for timing the operations of the said mechanisms to predetermined relative speeds, substantially as described. f

2. In an apparatus of the kind-'described -iiarea employing palettes on which the material is carried, means for advancing the palettes', and mechanism fortamping the material consisting of a member having aA working face flat lengthwise of the machineand profiled 4crosswise thereof to correspond with the configurations desired for the( upper surface of the product, and means for imparting to the member a curved movement without altering the angular position of its working face and'which, during a portion of its cycle, brings the member into contact with the material to tamp thev same, the direction of travel of the member and the material being the same at the moment of contact, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described employing palettes on which the material is carried, means for advancing the palettes at a predetermined speed, andmechanism stati onary with respect to thek palettes for tamping the material consisting of a member having a working face flat lengthwise of the machine and profiled crosswise thereof. to

-correspond with the configurations desired for the upper surface of the product, and means for imparting to the member a curved movement without altering the angular. position of its working face and which, during a portion of its cycle, brings the member into contact with the material to tamp the same, the same means operating to time the movements of the memberV to repeat its tamping action upon the material at substantially every point longitudinally of the palette, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described Y employing palettes on which the material is carried and advanced through the apparatus, a vtroweling member profiled to correspond with the configurations desired for the upper surface of' the product, means for reciprocating the troweling member back and forth over the surface of the material at a fixed height relative to a palette, and'other means for smoothing the surface of the material after it has passed from contact with the troweling member, said, latter means being iio arranged to reciprocate over the surface'of the material at a fixed height relative to a palette, there being means connecting the troweling member and smoothing means by which a reciprocating motion is imparted from one to the other, substantially as described. 4

5. In an apparatus of the kind described' employing palettes on which the material is carried, means for smoothing the upper surface Vof the material vconsisting of a reciprocating carriage arranged above a` palette, means for reciprocating the carriage, two members mounted on the carriage each profiled to correspond with the con-V 4 figurations desired for the upper surface of the product, and means for bringing the .f

iso

two members alternately into contact with the surface of the material, one with each reciprocating stroke of the carriage, substantially as described. i

6. In an apparatus of the kind described employing palettes on which the material is carried, means for smoothing the upper surface of the material consisting of a carriage arranged to be reciprocated over the material, two members mounted 'on the carriage arranged to be brought into contact one at a time with the surface of the material, and a single means for imparting reciprocating movements to the carriage and for alternately bringing the two members into contact with the material, substantially as described. Y

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a plurality of mechanisms for operating upon the surface of the material to tra-nsform the same from an amorphouscondition to a product having a definite form, including a plurality of members arranged to be moved for operation successively upon the surface of the material, each of the said members, in the order of their operations upon the material, being adjusted closer to the material, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described employing palettes on which the material is contained and a plurality of mechanisms profiled to correspond with the configurations desired for the upper surface of the product each arranged to operate successively upon the material, a conveyer for advancing the material through positions to be successively operated upon by the said mechanisms, the conveyer including means for positively centering each palette in correct position relative to the mechanisms which operate upon the material and providing walls to abut against the ends of the palette to retain the material, each of the walls being profiled to substantially correspond with the profiles in the mechanisms operating upon the material, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the kind described employing palettes profiled to correspond with the configurations desired for the under surface of the product, a conveyer for advancing the palettes into successive contact f with different mechanisms, each of which is proiiled to correspond with the configurations desired for the upper surface of the product, the conveyer including a plurality of linked carriages arranged to receive a number of palettes, there being members mounted on the carriages arranged to lie at each end of each palette, and each of such members being profiled to substantially correspond with the profiles of the mechanisms'operating upon the material, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described employing molding palettes having retaining walls at their ends only, a series of mechanisms for operating upon the material carried upon the palettes, one of the mechanisms consisting of a roll having end flanges arranged in coinciding relation with the sides of the palette to shear off the material carried thereby, whereby the sides of the product are definitely formed, substantially as described.

1l. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combi-nation, apalette conveyer consisting of a plurality of wheeled carriages linked together to form an endless chain and suitably mounted for operation, each carriage being provided with a transverse wall adapted to lie against the end of a palette, and with a shelf extending laterally from the wall to afford support for the end of a palette, each of the link connections between the carria-gesbeing provided with transversely extending brackets a'dapted to afford support for a palette independent of that furnished by the shelves, substantially as described.

l2. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combination, a palette conveyer consisting of a plurality of wheeled carriages linked together to form an endless chain and suitably mounted for voperation,*each carriage being provided near its center portion with two vtransverse walls, the forward wall being adapted to lie against the rear end of a palette and 4the rear wall being adapted to lie against the forward end of the succeeding palette, shelves extending laterally from each wall adapted to afford support for the ends of the proximate palettes, the shelves being profiled to correspond with the profiles of the palettes whereby shifting movement of the palettes upon the shelves is prevented, and transversely extending brackets carried by each connecting link, one near each end thereof, adapted to afford support for a palette near its center portion independent of that furnished its ends by the shelves, substantially as described. y

13. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combination, a palette conveyer consisting of a plurality of wheeled carriages linked together to form an endless chain, and suitably mounted for operation, each carriage being provided near its center portion with two transverse walls, the forward wall being adapted to lie against the rear end of the palette and the rear wall being adapted to lie against the forward end of the succeeding palette, shelves extending laterally from each wall adaptedto afford support for the ends of the proximate palettes, and transversely extending brackets carried by each connecting link, one near each end thereof, adapted to afford support for a palette near its center portion independent of that furnished its ends by the shelves, substantially as described.

14. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combination, a palette conveyer consisting oa plurality of Wheeled carriages linked together to form an endless chain and suitably mounted for operation, mountings for the palettes upon the carriages and links arranged to support the palettes in position centrally between the carriages, and means formed upon the mountings for centering each palette in proper operative position, substantially as described.

15. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combination, a palette conveyer consisting of a plurality of Wheeled carriages linked together to form an endless chain and suitably mounted for operation, and mountings for the palettes upon the carriages and links arranged to support the palettes in position centrally between the carriages, substantially as described.

1G. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combination, a palette conveyer consisting of a pluralit of Wheeled carriages linked together to orm an endless chain and suitably mounted for operation, mountings for the palettes upon the carriages and links arranged to support the palettes in position centrally between the carriages, the mountings on the carriages being adapted to cooperate with the palettes of a given profile to center the same in operative position upon the conveyer, and detachable connections between each of the carriages and links for facilitating substitution of different carriages for operation with palettes of different profile, substantially as described.

17. An apparatus of the kind .described employing molding palettes, a series of mechanisms for operating upon thematerial carried upon the palette, one of the mechanisms consisting of a roll having flanges arranged in coinciding relation with the sides of the palette to shear off the material carried thereby, Whereby the sides of the product are definitely formed, substantially as described.

18. An apparatus of the kind described including, in combination, a palette conveyer consisting ofa plurality of Wheeled carriages linked together to form anendless chain and suitably mounted for operation, and mountings for the palettes upon the carriages and links arranged to support the palettes'in position intermediately of the carriages substantially as described.

GUY R. TREVILLIAN. 

